Maritime Safety and Security assumes an important role in the Indian Ocean Region. The Region faces many challenges including piracy, armed robbery at sea, terrorism, and illegal trafficking. Other concerns are crimes in the fisheries sector, ocean degradation, and the effects of climate change. The IORA Action Plan 2022–2027 guides the work of Maritime Safety and Security. It aims to: promote maritime safety and security through coordination among member states and international organizations; strengthen regional cooperation on transboundary challenges; ensure freedom of navigation under international law, including UNCLOS and foster collaboration across all IORA working groups.
The Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security (WGMSS) implements activities through its work plan and is led by Australia (Chair of WGMSS), and India (Coordinating Country) for maritime safety and security. Capacity-building activities have been carried out.
Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) strengthens intra-regional economic ties, and enhances Member States' ability to attract and sustain productive foreign investment. IORA assigned TIF as a priority area in 2011.
The IORA Action Plan 2022–2027 guides cooperation on TIF through the Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI) which is currently chaired by Mozambique, and the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF) which is currently chaired by India. The work aims to promote economic cooperation among Member States and encourage action to reduce barriers to trade, services, and investment. It also seeks to facilitate government and business engagement. IORA provides an important platform for regional TIF dialogue, and information sharing, including the exchange of opportunities, challenges, and best practices. Various project activities under this Priority Area have been carried out.
Fisheries Management is critical in ensuring food security and the impact of overfishing and climate change has accelerated the reduction of major fish stocks within the Indian Ocean region.
The IORA Action Plan 2022–2027 guides the work of Fisheries Management. In addition, the IORA Fisheries Support Unit (FSU), which is hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, manages and spearheads IORA efforts to identify and discuss key fisheries-related issues mentioned in the action plan. The Core Group on Fisheries Management (CGFM) implements activities through its work plan. Oman is the chair of CGFM and the coordinating country for Fisheries Management. Capacity-building activities have been carried out.
Disaster risk management (DRM) in the Indian Ocean Region is a critical endeavour due to the region's susceptibility to a wide range of natural hazards. The IORA Action Plan 2022–2027 guides the work of Disaster Risk Management.
The IORA Action Plan provides strategic direction for DRM development. The WGDRM engages disaster and emergency response officials and experts across member states. Its goal is to promote regional cooperation and facilitate practical coordination among stakeholders. The Working Group on Disaster Risk Management (WGDRM) implements activities through its work plan. France/Reunion is the chair of CGFM, with Madagascar as the coordinating country for Disaster Risk Management. Capacity-building activities have been carried out.
Academic, Science and Technology Cooperation strengthens regional cooperation through promoting knowledge exchange, building research capacity, encouraging technology transfer, and fostering collaboration between higher education and research institutions across the Indian Ocean region. The IORA Action Plan 2022–2027 guides the work of Academic, Science, and Technology Cooperation. IORA has established two dedicated Functional Bodies under the Academic, Science, and Technology Cooperation (ASTC) priority area:
The Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG) serves as IORA’s academic think tank, fostering intellectual dialogue and strengthening the connection between academia and policy development. The IORAG implements activities through its work plan. Iran is the chair of IORAG. The Working Group on Science, Technology and Innovation (WGSTI) promotes research partnerships, knowledge sharing, and innovation-driven development across the region. It works closely with the IORA Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer (RCSTT) to align regional priorities and implement joint initiatives that strengthen scientific collaboration and capacity-building. The WGSTI implements activities through its work plan. South Africa is the chair of WGSTI. Capacity-building activities have been carried out.
Tourism and Cultural Exchanges are promoted by setting proposed policy directions for Member States and Dialogue Partners and provides platforms for dialogue in promoting tourism. The IORA Action Plan 2022–2027 guides the work in this area. It aims to supporting Member States through capacity-building and knowledge-sharing initiatives. The Group also facilitates collaboration on cultural heritage promotion, digital innovation, and tourism resilience, ensuring that efforts across the region are coherent and mutually reinforcing.
The Core Group on Tourism implements activities through its work plan. Kenya is the chair of CGT and the coordinating country for Tourism and Cultural Exchanges. Capacity-building activities have been carried out.
Blue Economy was introduced in IORA in 2014 as a cross-cutting area, to foster balanced development while safeguarding marine resources. The focus areas of Blue Economy are fisheries and aquaculture to ensure food security and livelihoods, seaports and shipping, renewable ocean energy, marine biotechnology and research and development, tourism, and offshore hydrocarbons and seabed minerals.
The IORA Action Plan 2022–2027 guides the work in this area. Indonesia and India are the Chair and Coordinating Country respectively for the Working Group on Blue Economy. Capacity-building activities have been carried out.
Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) was adopted as a Cross-Cutting Issue in 2013.
The IORA Action Plan 2022–2027 guides the work in this area. The Working Group on Women's Economic Empowerment (WGWEE) maintains a Work Plan of initiatives by Member States to facilitate Women's Economic Empowerment in the Indian Ocean region. It includes activities to mainstream gender considerations in all priority areas of IORA, improve women’s participation in IORA events, improve the financial inclusion of women, support and promote the training of women entrepreneurs, conduct research-based initiatives for enhancing women’s economic empowerment, and promote the Women Empowerment Principles. The WGWEE is led by Iran. Capacity-building activities have been carried out.